President al-Assad and Mrs. Asma receive members of foreign missions and Syrian experts participating in International Archaeological Conference

Damascus, SANA-Whenever history speaks, the name of Syria is mentioned in the tongue of ancient times, and if the earth has spoken, it would talk about Syria, the origin and cradle of civilizations.

From Ebla to Amrit and the two castles of Krak des Chevaliers and Aleppo, to Palmyra and Tal Farzat, Abis, Al-Shamiyya and Tal Sukkar, archaeological works and excavations do not end for the abundance of history and heritage.

As Syria is like that, international archaeological missions are resuming their work on Syrian soil after an absence imposed by the war and its conditions.

Italian, Czech and Hungarian missions, along with experts from European countries, began their return with an international conference titled (The latest results of Syrian archaeological research and the repercussions of the earthquake) held in the Syrian capital city of Damascus. It was an occasion to bring together dozens of foreign researchers to discuss with their Syrian counterparts the work of historical and archaeological missions in Syria, as well as to discuss the repercussions of February 6th earthquake on a number of archaeological sites and the expected restoration work therein.

President Bashar al-Assad and First Lady, Mrs. Asma al-Assad receive members of foreign missions and Syrian experts participating in the conference.

The talks focused on identity, history, tangible heritage, and the protection of this heritage, which was an explicit goal of the war on Syria, which targeted Syria’s history and heritage as an integral part of history and world heritage, rather, it is in the heart of this history and one of its most prominent pillars.

Among the most prominent faces present was  discoverer of the Kingdom of Ebla, Italian archaeologist Paolo Matthiae, who was awarded by President al-Assad today the Syrian Order of Merit of the Excellent degree in a ceremony that took place in the garden of the National Museum of Damascus. Dr. Najah al-Attar, Vice President of the Republic, awarded him the Order of Merit.

Mazen Eyon